It’s been a sad few days in my Southie neighborhood since that little boy was killed on L Street.

I must have said hello to him 100 times over the past few years as I walked by with my special needs grandson, Braeden.

We’re all mourning for his family who must be suffering terribly since Wednesday’s crash that claimed the life of the 3-year-old and injured his 4-year-old sister.

But I’m going to tell it like it is.

I don’t like the way the town I love has changed. I never would have allowed affordable triple-deckers to be converted to luxury condos with no parking. It has created out-of-control, dangerous traffic.

I love our elected officials, but I also love the town I was born in. Something needs to be done to corral all the deadly drivers.

South Boston just doesn’t seem like the same neighborhood today for me. I don’t mind telling you, I loved growing up with neighbors who didn’t live in expensive homes. They didn’t drive fancy cars either.

We valued our community. Just call me an old-fashioned social justice Democrat.

You can only yell “slow down” so many times before you’d be as sick as many of us are feeling today.

That precious little boy should be skipping along down L Street today and every day until he turned the corner to manhood.

But that won’t be happening. He’s another victim to reckless drivers who care more about making the next light than slowing down for little kids out for a walk with their nanny.

I’ll still walk up and down L Street every day on the way to the South Boston Branch Library or to physical therapy at the Boston Athletic Club.

I’ll still stop and talk to Billy Shaughnessy, Chris Gregorio and Bobby Sullivan at the Monsignor Powers Elderly Housing Development at L and 5th. Maybe I’ll stop and talk to Harold at his barber shop on L and Emerson Street.

But it will never be the same. Innocence is lost. A little boy won’t be there to say “Hello” back anymore.

Raymond L. Flynn is a former mayor of Boston and onetime U.S. Ambassador to the The Vatican.